My peony was mowed down! Will it make it?
caseygrow
17 years ago
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Nancy
17 years agojqpublic
17 years agoRelated Discussions
Being asked to mow down my wildflowers
Comments (9)Oh, I'm sorry you are having problems with ordinance! Depending on what sort of community you live in, though, a meadow-type wildflower garden may not be appropriate. The critters that like to make use of those habitats are animals that many people living in cities or suburbs or towns consider "pests." Most of us don't want our neighbors increasing the population of mice and insects that live in colonies, for example. I have had great success by planting native perennials, shrubs, and clumping grasses (like Little Bluestem and Switchgrass) in a more traditional-styled garden, which in my area means mulch and rocks and stuff mixed in with free-standing plants. So while I am using prairie grasses, and prairie flowers like coneflower, I'm planting them in the way that people normally plant gardens; in tended beds with defined borders. The birds love it, and it's nice to see seed-eaters like goldfinches clinging to flower heads while insect-eaters like robins and sparrows hop around in the mulched area. I leave the dead seedheads stand all winter and they are quite dramatic in the winter landscape. I mix in some shrubs and small trees (all natives), including some berry-producers that different birds love. I do have one area that's currently weedy and is too steep to really plant in a formal way, and I plan on putting in a lower-growing grass (I'm thinking of giving prairie dropseed a try) with a small sprinkling of perennials, and I can just weed-whack the whole thing down in the fall. I must admit that while I'm a big fan of using natives and gardening for wildlife, as a city-dweller I honestly don't really want a meadow right next door to me. I think many people feel the same. So I think the idea of leaving defined areas standing with an edging border (and maybe a few nice lawn ornaments or a sign) is a good one....See MorePeony plant mowed down - Help!
Comments (2)It just about breaks your heart, doesn't it. I've had that happen to me by the subdivision grounds crew. Mine happened midway through the year and it didn't grow back that summer, but the following year it was doing fine. This early in the season, yours might try to grow a few shoots, but I wouldn't expect much from them. Next year, it will probably grow back just fine. This weekend, a new shoot from the ground on my tree peony somehow got broken. I think it was either a dog or rabbit or kid...but it hurt to see the damage done....See MoreUpside-down peony
Comments (6)Wow! Are the tubers mushy? If not, I think I'd dig it up and try to replant it. You could probably position the new growth so that it is parallel to the ground and it might straighten itself out but you're certainly going to lose a lot of root if they're left exposed. I'd be concerned that any other eyes are going to be too deep to ever come up, too. I think that'd give it the best chance of surviving, hopefully some more experienced peony growers will chime in with more advice. Hope it works out well for you, especially since it's a sentimental plant....See MoreCutting Peonies down
Comments (3)Hi John, I've heard of people deliberately mowing peonies down after they bloom with no injury to the plant. They do build up energy during the period after blooming until the leaves are killed off by weather in the fall so you'll lose that boost to the roots, probably won't increase as much as they would if left longer, but no ultimate damage. Will you be able to completely shield the remaining stems from your spray? As long as they're shielded and you don't use a spray that can damage their roots you should be fine. On a personal experience note--I don't spray but I've had several peonies look bad enough during the summer that I go ahead and cut them back early, they've always come back the next spring....See Morecaseygrow
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